Masks #1
Written by Chris Roberson
Painted by Alex Ross
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover by Alex Ross, Jae Lee, Francesco Francavilla & Ardian Syaf
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: November 28, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Masks #1 is not just another mega crossover. It’s the BEST kind of crossover. One that’s natural and organic and one that makes sense. It’s not just another “let’s throw all our characters into one big fight” book. It’s a top of the line, great comic.

Dynamite could NOT have chosen a better person to write this, that comic scribe Chris Roberson. He works MAGIC in this book. As I stated before, everything flows naturally, and nothing is forced. The book takes place in the golden age of the pulp heroes, with everyone in their prime. Again, everything is natural and flows beautifully. The Green Hornet & Kato follow a big time criminal to New York City where they meet up with The Shadow. I don’t want to give too much away, but other characters follow and are introduced. Also, what I loved about this book is the villains. They’re perfect pulp villains. There’s no all powerful bad guy who holds the city hostage, it’s a natural enemy for the heroes of that time. This is some really solid writing, and I can’t wait for future issues.

Memorial
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Rich Ellis
Colors by Grace Allison
Letters by Neil Uyetake, Robbie Robbins, and Shawn Lee
Edits by Mariah Heuhner
Cover by Michael WM Kaluta
Collection Edits by Justin Eisinger & Alonzo Simon
Design by Neil Uyetake & Robbie Robbins
Introduction by Bill Willingham
IDW Publishing
Release Date: September 26, 2012
Cover Price: $24.99

It’s always a safe bet to trust your gut. Way back in February I wrote a lukewarm review of the new Fantasy book from Chris Roberson (Superman, co-publisher of Monkey Brain Comics) Memorial #3. I said, in essence:

What I just read is the middle of a larger story. It was ok, but it’s too early to say if the bigger book will be any good just yet.

I suspected it would deliver, but I’m kind of a coward sometimes. Add to that, for whatever personal reasons Fantasy is not a genre I’m usually drawn to. I have massive respect for your Elf Quests and Conan The Barbarians for their craftsmanship, but for as far back as I can remember it’s never been my bag, y’know?

For decades, bibliophiles have known that Michael Moorcock‘s Eternal Champions books are among the greatest fantasy books ever written. Amazingly, BOOM! Studios brought together the perfect team to introduce these characters to a whole new audience of comic readers.

Inspired by the original novels, Elric: The Balance Lost is an all-new tale scripted by Chris Roberson that is every bit as great as those classic stories. Couple that with the exceptional art of Francesco Biagini and you get one ridiculously awesome comic.

BOOM! Studios has given us an exclusive preview of pages from Elric: The Balance Lost #11. Check it out here below.

Each and every week “Pugs Not Hugs” MK2Fac3 and “The Nachos!” Henchman21 read a lot of comics. Seriously you guys, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. I mean, it is possible”¦ theoretically. They look forward to some more than others, I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of their pull lists, grab some comics, and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of June 27, 2012. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

“Some days, you just can’t get rid of a bomb.” Truer words were never spoken. It’s these words that summarize what was so great about Batman (1966). A higher level of social commentary was beautifully woven alongside a campy nature that is enjoyable on both a childlike mentality, while also appealing to the ironic appreciation of many adults. Yes, enjoying the ’60s Batman was hipster before hipster was a thing. But not only was this movie, and show, enjoyable, these worlds also perfectly embody the message that was in every episode. This quote, specifically, shows that no matter what you do, sometimes things are completely out of your control. Yes, despite what your parents and teachers told you as a child, everything is not possible. For example, it’s impossible for me to make any sense in the opening paragraphs of The GoD List, a weekly feature about new comic books, not the brilliant wonders of Batman (1966). Perhaps some day, but not this day. Take that, relevancy.

Elric: The Balance Lost #10
Elric created by Michael Moorcock
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Francesco Biagini
Colors by Stephen Downer
Letters by Travis Lanham
Covers by Francesco Mattina, Dan Panosian
BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

With four of the incarnations of the Eternal Champion in one place, you would think they would be nearly unstoppable. But we learn very quickly in Elric: The Balance Lost #10 that as amazing as these men are, there are far greater powers in the multiverse. Far greater and far larger in fact.

We enter the issue gawking at the stature of the two Lost Gods, Kwll and Rhynn. Their game is responsible for the destruction of the balance and the aftershocks that are echoing through the worlds. While some have come under the sway of Law, many have embraced chaos in it’s raw form. Our heroes (and anti-heroes) are trying to restore the balance and seek an audience with these powerful beings. Things, as they are wont to do, go horribly awry.